Method of enclosing lampshades



Nov. `27, A1962 M. G. ROSENTHAL METHOD 10F ENCLOSING LMPSHADES Filed July ll0 1958 Nov 27 19 v M. G. ROSEN THAL F11 METHOD 0F ENCLOSING 3065,531

2 Shea-{s sheet United States Patent Oiice Patented Nov. 27, 1962 Filed .Iuly 10, 1953, Ser. No. 747,712 1 Claim. (Cl. 29-450) This invention relates generally to lamp shade protective covers, and more particularly to novel forms of covers particularly adapted lto enclose substantially all of the exposed surface of the same.

While it is known in the art to wrap thin strips of cellophane or similar material about the hollow cylindrical portion of a lamp shade, such procedure has not been entirely satisfactory. With passage of time, the cellophane loosens, permitting gaps to occur in the protected areas through which dirt, soil and moisture may pass to result in soiling both the inner and outer surfaces of the shade. Another disadvantage has been found in the high degree of manual labor and skill in fitting such covers, the winding operation requiring the passing of the hands through the openings in the lamp shade a relatively large number of times.

Other covers have Ibeen employed inthe art, which are relatively simple to install, but such covers have suiered from a disadvantage in that they are adapted to protect only the outer surface of the shade, permitting dirt or soil .to enter the upper and lower openings in the shade to soil the inner surface thereof.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide improved lamp shade covers in which the above-mentioned disadvantages have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved lamp shade covers of the class described which lend themselves to rapid and convenient installation and removal, thus suiting the same for use in connection with the commercial production of lampshades.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of lampshade covers of the class described in which the number of sizes of the same which must be manufactured to cover a complete range of sizes of lampshades has been materially reduced owing to the incorporation of provisions for adjusting the size of the cover in installed condition within a substantial lrange of lengths and diameters.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of inside-outside type lampshade covers possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the ready adaptability of cylindrically shaped lampshade covers embodying the invention for use in connection with lampshades of frustoconical, octagonal, polygonal and other irregularly shaped shades in limited use at the present time.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more fully apparent in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

On the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate `corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a iirst embodiment of the invention in condition prior to installation upon a lampshade cover.

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective showing a lirst step in the installation of the cover shown on FIGURE l upon a conventional lampshade.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View showing a second step in the installation of the lampshade cover upon a lampshade.

FIGURE 4 is a similar sectional view showing a third and tinal step in the installation.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded View in perspective showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing an alternate form of the second embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is a view in perspective showing a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a View in perspective showing an alternate form of the third embodiment.

FIGURE 9 is a View in perspective, partially broken away to show detail, showing a linal step in the assembly of the alternate form of the third embodiment of the invention upon a frustoconical lampshade.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 10H10 on FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a second alternate form of the third embodiment.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a third alternate form of the third embodiment.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing a portion of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the fourth embodiment in installed condition.

FIGURE l5 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective showing certain details of the fourth embodiment in disengaged condition.

FIGURE 16 is a similar fragmentary view in perspective showing the disengaged elements of FIGURE l5 in engaged condition.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing the second embodiment of the invention in engaged condition.

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 18-18 on FIGURE 14.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention as seen on FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, the device gener ally indicated by reference character 26 is the form of an elongated cylindrical tube of suitable synthetic material, as for example, polyethylene, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, and the like. The tube 20 is bounded by a first edge 21 having a binding 22 in which a resilient contractile means 23 is disposed, The second edge 24 thereof is generally free of interconnection, and has extending therefrom a plurality of slits 2S -arranged generally normally with respect to the plane in which the edge 24 is disposed.

Referring to FIGURE 2 in the drawing, there is shown a conventional lampshade 26 of generally cylindrical shape including an upper edge 27, a lower edge 28, an outer surface 29, an inner surface 3h and lampshade supporting means 31 of well known type. In the rst step of installation of the device 20 upon the lampshade 26, the first edge 21 is expanded to a degree where the same may be slipped over the lower edge 28, a short distance, following which the second edge 24 is moved upwardly through the lower opening formed by the edge 28.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the edge 24 is oriented so that a number of the slits 2S are aligned with supporting means 31 permitting the edge 24 to pass upwardly and outwardly around the upper edge 27 of the shade. The portions of lthe tube 20 adjacent the edge 2.4 are then folded against the upper portion of the outer surface 29 completely covering the same. There are thus formed a plurality of individual flap portions 24 which are secured in position by a rubber band 36 or similar elastic contractile means. The nal step shown in FIGURE 4 on the drawing involves the moving upwardly of the irst edge 21 to a point where it overlies the flap portions 34 thus completely enclosing all of the exposed surfaces of the lampshade.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that the above method may be employed in the case of poly- 

